almost unequalled success and activity; the number and the quality of the papers read are both matters of congratulation.

In general Gaelic literature there is no work of importance to record since our last Volume appeared. But an event of moment to Gaelic Folk-lore and Tradition took place in the death of Mr J. F. Campbell of Islay. He died on the 17th February of this year, at the age of sixty-three. Next to Macpherson himself, Mr Campbell has done most to make the Highlands and its Gaelic speech known over all the world. His "Popular Tales of the West Highlands was what the Germans call an "epochmaking book" in the general study of Folk-lore; while his "Leabhar na Feinne" is an invaluable contribution to the Ossianic controversy.

The field of general Celtic literature for the last year-anda-half has been comparatively barren. The great activity of the three or four previous years, which produced Windisch's "Irische Texte," the translations of his admirable Old Irish Grammar, M. D'Arbois de Jubainville's various books on the Study of Irish Literature and Celtic Mythology, Mr Elton's excellent "Origins of English History," Professor Rhys' "Celtic Britain," and several others,-this great activity has been succeeded by less effort. But books and pamphlets have been appearing, and we note the names of Thurneysen, Loth, Stokes, and Windisch (more "Irish Texts"), Zimmer, &c. Professor Windisch last year wrote an article for a German Encyclopedia, on the "Celtic Speeches ;" it is an admirable resumé of the leading facts connected with the history, literature, and bibliography of the Celtic languages. It is a pity that it is practically shut out from British ken in its German form, and we trust it will soon be given to us in an English form.

One result of the report of the Crofters' Commission (to which reference was made in the introduction to volume X.), was Mr Mundella's sending of Dr Craik to the Highlands last September to report on the subject of Highland Education. He reported on the teaching of Gaelic in terms that deserve our highest praise; he presented every view candidly, and arrived at the conclusion

that Gaelic ought to be taught to the junior children, and might be taught to the senior children as a specific subject. He discussed the causes of the low attendance, and these he found in the natural difficulties of the country-distance from school, bad weather, and bad roads; also in the circumstances of the parents--poverty, appearing in want of clothes, food, and fees; the need of the children for herding and other works of the season; and some apathy or even hostility to education. Attendance, he argued, must be enforced, for the money returns and the education depended on it. For fostering secondary education, he recommended the employment of a graduate in one school in each district, with special facilities for teaching and gaining higher grants for the highest standards and subjects. The Commissioners urged that all rating above 2s. in the £ should be paid by Government, and that the building debts should be cancelled. Dr Craik opposed this recommendation, but suggested a considerable increase of school grants. The Department considered the matter very seriously, and early in May a Highland Minute appeared, making some important additions to the Code in regard to the Highlands, and generally giving effect to Dr Craik's recommendations. In the Highlands, burghs excluded, if a school makes an average attendance of 65 per cent. for the year as compared to the number on the roll (at the year's end), the average attendance grant is raised from 4s. to 5s. per head; if the school makes 70 per cent., 6s. is given; if 75, 7s.; and if 80 per cent. is made, the grant is 8s.-exactly doubled, when further grants are stopped. In regard to Gaelic, Gaelic-speaking pupil-teachers may be employed for the infants and junior children; such a teacher is recognised and paid the pupil-teacher grant, even should the numbers in the school not entitle the school to such; and, further, the pupil-teacher is to be allowed to spend the last year of apprenticeship at a preparatory school for entrance to the training colleges. A grant of 10s. for the infants is promised if such a pupil-teacher is employed. Gaelic is further made a specific subject, like Latin, Greek, and, for the matter of that, English; but the Gaelic schedule could not at the date of the

Minute be published, nor has it yet appeared. Secondary education is encouraged thus:-A central school, under a graduate, who has time for extra work by only having 30 pupils allotted him in average attendance, can earn 10s. for each pass in extra subjects instead of the present 4s. Such are the concessions made. The discussions held in various places at teachers' meetings bring out the fact that only some fifty per cent. of Highland children on the roll are in average attendance. The Highland Boards have therefore an initial pull or jump of 15 per cent. to make before even the 1s extra is gained. Can it be done, or, if done, how far can it be carried? The attendance concession will benefit greatly the East Coast boards, but in the Islands and the West Coast the matter is very doubtful.

We are glad to record the formation of a Scotch Ministry, which has also Education under its charge. The Duke of Richmond is the first Minister; Sir Francis Sandford is permanent Under-Secretary to the General Department; while Dr Craik is Secretary for Scotch Education. This last appointment augurs well for the Highlands.

From the list of donations to the Library we inadvertently omitted to mention a handsomely-bound large paper copy of Mackenzie's "Beauties of Gaelic Poetry," kindly presented by Miss H. G. Fraser, North Berwick.

Inverness, August 1885.

ERRATU M.

Page 144; at line 19 of text I. for "ímaíc," read ímacc.

TRANSACTIONS.

22ND JANUARY 1884.

On this date the Rev. Alexander Cameron, Free Church minister of Brodick, delivered a lecture on "The Influence of an Original Nasal Termination on Modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic," for which he was awarded a cordial vote of thanks.

23rd January.

On this date office-bearers for 1884 were nominated; and some routine business was transacted.

TWELFTH ANNUAL DINNER.

The Twelfth Annual Dinner of the Society took place in the Caledonian Hotel. Provost Macandrew, in the unavoidable absence of the Chief, presided, while the croupiers were Dean of Guild Mackenzie, and Mr Alexander Macbain, M.A., Raining's School. Among those present were Captain O'Sullivan, Adjutant of the I.A.V.; Councillor Alexander Ross, Mr William Mackay, solicitor; Mr Hugh Rose, solicitor; Mr Robert Grant, of Macdougall & Co.'s; Dr F. M. Mackenzie, Dr Ogilvie Grant, Bailie Mackay, Mr William Morrison, Rector, Dingwall Academy; Mr Colin Chisholm, Namur Cottage; Mr James Barron, Ness Bank; Mr Duncan Campbell, Ballifeary; Dr D. Sinclair Macdonald, Mr James Cumming, Allanfearn; Councillor W. G. Stuart, Councillor James Macbean, Mr John Davidson, merchant; Mr A. K. Findlater, of Macdonald & Mackintosh; Mr Alexander Mactavish, of Mactavish & Mackintosh; Mr John Macdonald, merchant, Exchange; Mr Fraser Campbell, draper; Mr John Whyte, librarian;

Mr William Gunn, draper; Mr James Mackintosh, ironmonger; Mr Alex. Macgregor, solicitor; Mr Duncan Chisholm, coal-merchant; Mr Alex. Ranaldson Macraild, writer; Mr D. Maclennan, commission agent; Mr D. K. Clark, of the Courier; Mr Hector R. Mackenzie, Town-Clerk's Office; Mr William Mackenzie, Secretary of the Society; Mr Alexander Ross, of the Chronicle; Mr William Cameron, The Castle; Mr Macdonell, do.; Mr F. Mackenzie, Mr Menzies, Blarich, Sutherlandshire; Mr D. Nairne, &c.

The Secretary read apologies for absence from Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart.; Cluny Macpherson of Cluny Macpherson, C.B.; Mr John Mackay, Hereford; Mackintosh of Mackintosh; Mr A. R. Mackenzie, yr. of Kintail; Mr John Mackay of Herriesdale; Mr W. M'K. Bannatyne, Bridge of Allan; Mr D. Forbes of Culloden; Mr Thomas O'Hara, Portarlington; FieldMarshal Sir Patrick Grant, Mr F. Macdonald, Druidaig; &c.

The Chief of the Society wrote from Algiers, to the Secretary, as follows:

DEAR SIR,-I beg to express, through you, my regret to the members of our Society at being unable to take the chair at this our annual meeting, but, owing unfortunately to the delicate state of my wife's health, we have been ordered here to Algiers for the winter, and as the distance is very great, it has been a matter of impossibility for me to get over in time to occupy that chair to which I had the honour last year to be appointed. But believe me when I tell you that my heart is with you on this occasion, and, although many hundred miles of ocean roll between us, there is no distance, however great, that cannot be bridged over by that bond of sympathy that unites the hearts of all true Highlanders. And it is thus I would have you think this day; that, although absent in the body, I am with you in the spirit, wishing you every success in your great undertaking; that your efforts may continue to meet with that success they so justly deserve, and that the end will be the bringing about of the one thing so dear to all of us—namely, the preservation, in all its purity, of our most beautiful and ancient language, its literature, poetry, music, legends, and traditions-(Cheers)-and, more than all, the preservation of that feeling of clanship and brotherhood which should always exist among Highlanders of all classes-high and low, rich and poor— that feeling which has for ages and centuries existed; that feeling which has gone far towards making our beloved country take the high place she does among the nations of the world by reason of her sons being the bravest, staunchest, and most loyal adherents to their Sovereign and the land that gave them birth. (Cheers.)